Copyright Issues in Teaching with Technology

Seeking Permission
Several times in this paper, we have urged you to seek permission when in doubt. Start by contacting the author or publisher. If no address or phone number is provided, you might be able to obtain that information from the Bookstore or McGovern Library. The Copyright Clearance Center also has contact information for thousands of authors and publishers.

If at all possible, contact the copyright holder by phone to clarify precisely to whom your request should be addressed. A phone call gives you the opportunity to discuss the specific circumstances of your request and negotiate fees, if applicable. Whether your means of contact is phone, fax, letter, or e-mail, the rights holder will need the following:

• Your personal contact information, including name, position, institution, mailing address, phone and fax numbers.
• Complete identification of the item you wish to use, including title, author, publication title and date, volume and issue, page numbers (if applicable), and amount desired.
• Detailed description of your intended use, including purpose, course name, number of copies, means of distribution, need in multiple academic terms (if applicable), and other relevant information.
• Date by which you need permission. (Provide at least six weeks if possible).

Permission may be granted over the phone, but get it in writing on the copyright holder’s letterhead if at all possible, either by mail or fax. Obtaining permission in a tangible form confirms who provided permission for what, and when. Additional guidance and a sample permission request letter may be found in the CETUS (1995) handbook on fair use.

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